Dragon Feature Fact

The spikes of bearded dragons are actually modified scales.

Fitzgerald Hall of Natural Science

Bearded Dragon

Bearded DragonPogona vitticeps

Bearded dragons get their name from their throat pouch, which is covered with large spikes. Dragons will puff out this pouch, and the spiny “beards” of males can also change color to dark bluish-black when the dragon is excited or agitated. Bearded dragons can live up to 10 years in captivity and grow up to 22 inches long. WonderLab's bearded dragons (Lydia, Ralph, and Al) are full-grown adults born in fall 2006 and donated by a family member of a museum.

Habitat and Range
Bearded dragons live in rocky, semi-desert regions and arid, open woodlands. They are native to central Australia.

Diet
Bearded dragons are omnivores that eat a wide variety of insects, leaves, flowers, and fruits in the wild. At WonderLab, the dragons eat crickets and salads made of various vegetables and fruits.

Behavior and Adaptations
Bearded dragons use a wide variety of body movements and positions to communicate with other dragons. For example, in addition to the beard display, bearded dragons can also flatten their bodies like a pancake to make themselves look bigger.